LUXEMBOURG -- The use of depleted uranium (DU) ammunition in the Bosnia and Kosovo wars of the 1990s did not pose any health risks, the European Union has concluded.
In a statement, EU foreign ministers said neither NATO soldiers handling the weapons nor the general population had been at risk.
However, citing "apparent health and environmental problems in the region", they said they would remain alert to any scientific evidence suggesting that the use of the armour-piercing ammunition had negative effects on human health.
The EU statement noted that "detailed and objective examinations" had shown no scientific evidence linking the use of DU with various illnesses.
Several European countries expressed concern earlier this year when Italy started studying the illnesses of 30 veterans of Balkans peacekeeping missions -- seven of whom died of cancer, including five from leukaemia.
Cases of cancer were also reported among soldiers from France, the Netherlands, Spain, Belgium and Portugal.
A United Nations report in March found that DU ammunition buried in the soil could contaminate ground water in Kosovo and posed risks to people in the area.
However, it said levels of DU contamination left in the vicinity of NATO-allied bombing targets in 1999 were low following tests by a U.N. team at 11 sites last November.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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